le

ing of metal, and the horrifying roars outside played over and over in her mind, like a nightmare she couldn't wake up from. Thin smoke seeped through the cra

itching on one of its arms had come loose, but Sigrid refused to let it go. It was her only co

ng into the fabric. She had been told to stay quiet, to wait until it was safe. But it was so hard. Her small bo

call-it was a prayer. But the only response was the creak of the wooden be

final words echoed in her mind. "Stay hidden, my love.

it was never

shadows, her imagination running wild. Every sound-whether it was the faint howl of the wind or the distant crackle of collapsing debris-made her heart race. She

of bread her mother had left for her was gone, and the water jug was nearly empty. She pressed

ad no way of knowing what was happening above her. Had the monsters left? Was her

d to herself, her voice shaking.

r mother had told her not to open it. But what if her mother was waiting for her? What if her

eak it made. Her heart pounded in her chest, so loud it was all she could hear. She paused,

et her. It smelled of smoke and something else-something metallic and sickly that made her st

ing moments of happiness: her mother singing while brushing her hair, her father lifting her high into the air,

here she

she had been there-hours, maybe days. The stifling air felt like it was suffocating her. Finally, driven by a desperate need to know, Sigrid forced h

e gagged, covering her nose with her sleeve as she climbed out.

she knew

rled in the cold wind, and the ground was littered with bodies-men, women, children-all frozen in their final moment

ther, the tattered doll slipping from her grasp. Her breaths quickened as she recognized familiar faces among the d

n she s

fa

ng frame now motionless. A deep gash ran acr

tumbled forward, her legs weak beneath her. "Papa, it

l hands trembling as they reached

as tears streamed down her cheeks. "You pro

nse. Only the lifeless

ground. "Don't leave me, Papa... I'm scared... I'm so scared..." Her sobs e

gainst his chest, clutching his torn shirt like a lifeline. "Papa... please..." she whis

dress and washing away the blood and soot. Sigrid didn't move. She stayed t

akly, almost to herself. "You promi

er, her father wo

shing grief, a small flame ignited in her chest. It was faint at first, but it grew with every passing momen

lenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms until they bled. Her lips quivered, then

staring at the smoke-fille

aw and filled with fury. "I HATE YOU AL

ng through the silence like a blade. Though she was only a child, her d

d, fainter this time, as if mocking her. Sigrid's fists tightened, her jaw clenched.

d, her voice trembling but reso

-

of Pro

girl with wounds too deep to heal, both in her body and in her soul. Sigrid Valkyrie, the daughter

ay, Fenrir's blood w

f human resistance began to burn onc